When you sit down with me, my first priority is simple: to truly hear you. Not to diagnose, not to advise, not to fix — but to understand where you are, what you’re carrying, and who you want to become. I believe every person holds the capacity for growth and change, and my role is to create the conditions where that growth can actually happen — at your pace, in your direction.

THE STORY BEHIND THE WORK

My path to this work has been anything but straight. I began my career as a practicing attorney, then earned a Master’s in Rehabilitation Counseling in 1992. Shortly after, I experienced a serious burn injury that required months of recovery and rehabilitation — a season that profoundly shaped my understanding of what it means to heal, to need help, and to rebuild from the inside out. That experience is part of why I do this work, and why I meet clients with the particular kind of respect that comes from having been there.

CREDENTIALS & EXPERIENCE

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and the Clinical Director of Path to Peace Counseling, PLC, in West Des Moines, Iowa. I hold a Juris Doctor (JD) and a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. I have served as adjunct faculty in the Department of Education at Drake University and have been in private practice for many years, working with individuals and couples across a wide range of life challenges.

WHO I WORK WITH

I work with individual adults and couples. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, depression, relationship patterns that keep repeating, grief, or a life transition that has left you feeling unmoored — you don’t need to have it figured out before you reach out. We’ll figure it out together.

OUTSIDE THE OFFICE

I’m also a musician — I write and perform, and have been inducted into the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and 2014. I find that music and therapy have more in common than most people expect: both require presence, listening, and a willingness to be surprised by what emerges.

CLOSING INVITATION

If you’re considering therapy — for the first time or after a long gap — I’d be honored to be part of your process. The first step is often the hardest. Reach out anytime.